LIGHTNING VOLTS
The new power combination also delivers theoretical consumption of 204mpg when all the planets are aligned, and just 34g/km CO2, which puts it into a 12 per cent Benefit in Kind bracket. The reality is, if you are constantly doing less than 30 miles per day, you can charge it up overnight and rarely see the inside of a petrol station.
Performance-wise, acceleration is electrifying – pardon the pun. It can hit 60mph in just 5.9 seconds which is in real hot-hatch territory,even if doesn’t quite having the handling capability. It races away from a standing start to a top speed of 146mph where permitted.
Having said that, it does feel assured, with the all-wheel traction kicking in on demand. Not a full-fat off-roader, it should be more than capable on muddy tracks, fields and in tricky weather conditions.
A front electric motor is mated with an electrified eight-speed automatic transmission, while he second motor and differential are integrated into the electrically powered rear axle, providing the all-wheel traction. There are four driving modes – electric, hybrid,
Performance-wise, acceleration is electrifying – pardon the pun. It can hit 60mph in just 5.9 seconds which is in real hot-hatch territory
AWD and Sport. In pure electric mode, the car has a range of 35 miles. In hybrid it automatically selects the most efficient method of propulsion. Switch to sport and you have a real flying machine.
It comes with a 3.7kW on-board charger, with an optional 7.4kW version also available. The ‘e-Save’ section of the infotainment system allows the driver to determine how much battery needs to be saved for entering zero-emissions zone. The driver can choose to save six or 12 miles of range, or reserve all of the battery energy.
In addition, regenerative braking captures kinetic energy during deceleration, allowing electrical energy to be returned to the battery and stored. Vauxhall will also offer devices for fast charging at public stations, as well as wallboxes at home. With a 7.0kW wallbox, customers can fully charge the battery in less than two hours. Vauxhall has also introduced an exclusive charging offer where buyers will receive a free six-month membership to the Polar charging network, providing an easy, convenient and reliable means to charge their vehicle away from home.
This vehicle is a clever piece of engineering, with its three power units and gearbox setup, that delivers blistering performance with major economy savings.
Meanwhile, the electric revolution continues apace with the imminent new Corsa-e and Vivaro-e van.